The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19

then she took her flint and steel and
fastened the door, and went to the
shed and took the nag (they had only
lett the old marcy she didna' wait to
bride she, but off she went as fast as
the wind for Holder Hill over to the
aom'west from here. And she rode and
rode and went up the hill, up to the
Beacon Point, and there was the bon
fire all aid ready, as dry as finder,
and she struck and struck and the
third time she got flame, and soon
the beacon was blazing and no mis-
take and she rode and she rode
toward Breakdown until the poor
beast could go no longer, so
she got off and let her go. And Nance
walked and walked, until all on n sud
den the light sprung up on Breakdown,
and she knew as sure as If she saw HIM
that her trap had taken, that Jim had
seen the fire on Holder, and instead
OF going home had turned off to light
up Breakdown.
at was the war time, you see. and
he were keen for the cause, and was
the first once before to help light the
signal. And she hurried on and came
up to he, and he turned round and
cried, why, Nancy, love- is it you?
There's been some victory, you may
dependY And she were out OF
breath and could scarce speak; but she
knew as sure as fate her brother and
his crew would come after their prey.
You see they had worked so long
together, these Dedmans, one seem
ed to guess the others thoughts
like; and she knew as when the
time went by, and Jim did not
come home, and they saw the light
on Holder Hill and sudden the light
on Breakdown, they would guess as
how it were Nancy; or maybe only
think Jim was there instead OF coming
home. However it be, she felt they
would follow up there, so she cried,
Ely, JIM fly! as quick as you can,
down that way. MOI not home! Be
off be of! away rs far as you can 60!
They're after we to murder we. and l
lit the fire on Holder to turn you from
going home. They be waiting for you,
and now maybe they'll be following
you up here. Give me your coat and
hat, Jim-see, I've none. I'm cold. And
90, Jim-go; | can't go with you, Jim.
Goodbye, lad! Oh Lad, love you, lad"
And the stupid thickheaded fellow as he
was, he took off his long riding coat
and his SLOUGH hat and puts them on
her, and takes her in his arms, and
she gives him one kiss and sends him
of. He steals down as quiet as
mouse, untethers his nag, and of he
goes London way. And Nance? She
stood with her arms folded, her face
to the fire and her back to the path,
so as her figure is seen up against the
flames in an uncertain kind OF way.
She was as tall as young Kemp; and
she waited there to gain time for he
decoy, we'll say. Sne were hall
dazed with what she'd gone through
and o. strange sort OF awaiting feeling
as KEEP her very still. At last she
hears them coming, and she never
stirs. And Dick, from behind, with
out waiting a minute, or taking so
much as step for 'arder, fires straight
at her back and she falls forward, and
he fires again, and then they walked
away satisfied it were Jim Kemp, for
they seed the coat and they never
thought OF Nancy.
We'll, morning came, and as they
went back and found the house empty
they thought she'd given them the
slip, and they laughed as how they
had served her right; they little knew
how they had served her. They
wasn't long a-laughing; the fires had
made q bestirment, and there they'd
found Nancy Dedman-dead, shot
twice through the back. And when
they brought her in the old man tell
down in a fit, but Dick he said naught,
only when they said, Had Jim Kemp
done this foul deedY' for his papers
was in his pockets, Dick said, How
should he know? He had allays told
Nanre to have naught to do with that
devil Kemp
"There was an inquiry, but naught
came OF it. Old Dedman had another
fit and died, and Dick went over the
seas, they said. Farmer Kemp,
young Jim as was. never come back
to settle. He sold up, and nobody
would have know'd a word about it
only he come once, when he was get
ting in years, to look at Nancy's
grave to Haslemere.
HE told all he know'd to the sex
ton, Mr.. Keeling, and years after Dick
came as q stranger and asked for
the grave OF one Nancy Dedman, as
he had fancy to see. Though he was
an old gray man much beshaken' and
with naught about he to speak OF
murder, Mr.. Keeling, as was always
one with two pair OF eyes, determined
on seeing Justice done, and he tracks
the man to the inn and brings the par